You got your swimsuit on, a towel on your shoulder, and you head out onto the pool area. As you step out, you see cracking, spalling, and unpleasantly discolored areas on the pool deck. You freak out a little then calmed down and thought “Well, I can have it fixed or replaced.” Pool deck resurfacing and repair are both valid options, but one is more expensive and more time-consuming than the other. So, which one should you choose? Here’s a guide to help you choose the right pool deck makeover solution.
Concrete Repair
For very minimal and isolated concrete damage, repairing concrete pool deck may be the best choice. A shallow crack or two somewhere on the pool deck that is less than a quarter inch can easily be filled with a crack filling agent. Shallow holes can be patched to keep dirt and water from penetrating. For uneven slabs, slab jacking or mud jacking can be done to put it back in the right level. This is done by injecting a special type of grout under the affected slab through a small drilled hole. For discolored surfaces, coloring the concrete pool deck is a good way to cover the discolored areas, giving it a new look.
Concrete Resurfacing
If the pool decking suffers from minor damage that is spread out on the surface, patching or filling each one is tedious and the results will be unpleasant. If the damage is spread out but shallow enough to qualify for a repair, resurfacing the slab will be a more sound solution. There are many decorative concrete pool deck resurfacing options, such as:
- Stamped Overlay – A concrete overlay is installed on the pool deck and then stamped with a desired pattern or design. It can be made to look like brick or stone with manual concrete staining. Some of the most popular patterns are Ashlar, Flagstone, Fractured Slate, Brick, and more. Some of its noteworthy features include slip-resistant surfaces, durability, easy upkeep, and affordable labor and material cost.
- Spray Knockdown Texture – This acrylic concrete coating is popular for use on pool decks. Because it is sprayed on, rather than poured, it creates a texture that is slip-resistant like stucco but with a more walkable surface. One stand-out feature of this spray texture is that it has intense heat-reflectivity, keeping the surface 30% cooler. It can be customized with staining, scoring, engraving, and more.
